The Montreal Gig: The Next Big Thing.

I think it's safe to talk about this now. I think I have a solid perspective on this and can safely discuss this. I know the lay of the land, here.

Yesterday morning, I got a forwarded email from the director of the Vaude ville show. A friend of his is a casting agent for Cir que Du Sol eil (name intentionally broken to avoid Google detection). They are currently working on two new shows to go to NYC and Las Vegas. The Las Vegas show is a "The Life and Times of Elvis" show that had nothing in it for me. No parts, nothing. The NYC show, though, that was a cat of a different color.

This is the character breakdown that caught my eye...

THE MANAGER
We need a middle-age male actor (age 35-55) who is primarily a comic actor, with strong sense of improvisation, and able to sing. An imposing stage presence but in good physical condition. He will play a conniving crook imposing impressario, as arrogant as funny. The director's model is Nathan Lane (The Producers).

He doesn't need to be the best singer, or the best fast-impro comic; but he needs to be imposing and a comic side, he will lead the show, from the beginning as the Manager / Faust, to the MC of the Vaude ville world.

Yeah. I know. I can do that. That's precisely the character that I just played in Evanston.

Even more interesting is the fact that one of the reviewers of the Vaude ville show specifically described me as a "Nathan Lane" type. I thought that the coincidence was too good to pass up.

So, I emailed the Casting Agent with resume and two or three headshots from the recent "Public Enem ies" photo shoot and a link to the show and the review that specifically referenced Lane. And I waited to get the response.

Which came about an hour later. The casting agent loved my look. He said that I was definitely "in type" for the gig. And that he could easily see my playing the part. He sent me detailed notes on what I needed to prep for them. I needed a new, full-body shot, in character and I needed video footage to send them. Something that showed me moving and acting in character. And they wanted to see a minute of me, out of character, being myself. They need to see me moving and moving well for a big guy.

So, I emailed Matt Larsen and he's free to help me get a little footage to edit into footage from the vaude ville show. In theory, we can have an audition tape ready by next weekend. Which fits perfectly with the casting agents schedule. I also need some new pics from a photographer friend. Looks like I'll be cashing in some "favor chips" for that too.

Realistically, I am one of several actors bidding for the part. I am doing the same thing that these other actors are doing. The same prep work. The casting agent didn't tell me how many people he was sending up for the gig. But he DID say that he was actively discouraging people who weren't right for the gig. And that the synchronicity of my just completing this gig and Cir que prepping their own vaude ville show was too good to pass up. He said that I was a good match for the part.

So, where does all of this potentially lead?

If I complete the paperwork and video and send it in...
and if they see it and like it...

(two big if's)

the next step will be an actual audition in Montreal for the director and the producers. On their ticket. Their plane ticket. Their hotel accomodations. One shot to strut my stuff and show them what I've got...

And if that happens and all goes well...

I move to Montreal around Christmas and spend 4 - 6 months, prepping the show. After that, we come first to Chicago for a three month, soft opening, working out the bugs of the show. After that, we go into residence of a theater on Broadway, in NYC, in an open run in Cir que's first Broadway show.

Yeah. I know.

That would be a "Game Changer".

Working for the biggest circus company in the world. Playing a part that I know and would excel at, first in Montreal, then in my home town, then in New York City, where I would be in residence. And drawing phat Circus checks. Living for an indeterminate period of time in the city I just visited in August for the first time. I could do that.

If all of that happens, who knows what "if's" and "opportunities" are down the road beyond this?

So, yes, very exciting stuff.

I'm focusing on the preparatory steps that I need to take, to get the gig. I'm researching the director this weekend and his work in vaude ville. I'm shooting the framing footage for the video this weekend and editing it together. I'm shooting a few pics for the packet. I'm re-tooling the resume to give them the extensive training information that they're looking for. Nose to the grindstone, baby. Nose to the grindstone.

And I'm reaching for this new brass ring as hard as I can. While there are no guarantees that I'll actually get this, the only thing that I CAN guarantee is that I won't get it, if I don't try. Somebody is going to get this gig. Why not me?

More details coming, as I know more. Heck, I'll try to post the audition video on Youtube and post it here too. Might be worth a larf.

If you got fingers, you might start crossing them for me.

Cheers,
Mr.B